Thomas Epps III

Thomas Epps III is the Allan & Myra Ferguson Distinguished Professor of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Delaware with a joint appointment in Materials Science & Engineering. He directs the Center for Research in Soft Matter & Polymers (CRiSP), the NSF MRSEC CHARM center, and serves as Deputy Director of the DOE EFRC Center for Plastics Innovation. His leadership spans multiple interdisciplinary research initiatives focused on sustainable materials.

His research centers on biobased materials from waste feedstocks, plastics waste valorization, and advanced polymer systems including nanostructured assemblies for drug delivery, ion-conducting membranes, and stimuli-responsive polymers. Key focus areas include lignin conversion to high-performance polymers, chemical recycling of plastics waste, and development of sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based materials. His group employs integrated experimental-computational approaches to design next-generation materials.

Epps has received exceptional recognition including Fellowships from the American Physical Society, Royal Society of Chemistry, National Academy of Inventors, and multiple divisions of the American Chemical Society. His award portfolio features the John H. Dillon Medal (APS), Percy L. Julian Award (NOBCChE), William W. Grimes Award (AIChE), and NSF CAREER Award.

• Co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Lignolix, Inc. (biomass valorization startup)
• Associate Editor for Science Advances
• Member of DOE Basic Energy Sciences Advisory Committee
• Recipient of 25+ major awards including PECASE and Kavli Fellowship

His research group operates at the intersection of polymer science, sustainability, and nanotechnology, with strong emphasis on translating fundamental discoveries into practical solutions for plastic waste and renewable materials. Current initiatives include NSF and DOE-funded centers addressing circular materials challenges through advanced catalysis and polymer engineering.